Chapter 200

“I still love you, Jake, but I’m so confused right now and so hurt. I was always yours. I don’t know how else I could’ve made you believe it. What else I could have said or done?” I’ve no idea what else to say after that. So many things are running through my head, trying to process that Jake could be as insecure as me in our relationship has completely thrown me, I never imagined someone like him would doubt anything; let alone how I felt about him.

“You didn’t need to, baby. I should’ve realized it before acting like the world’s biggest asshole. I love you more than anything in the world, you have to believe that.” He catches my other wrist and pulls both hands up, so I’m drawn toward him, his forehead touching mine, giving me no option but to obey.

His alluring green eyes meet mine, but they are dark and foreboding with the intensity of his emotions. Emotions matching mine.

I missed those eyes so much, like doorways to my soul.

“You’re mine, you’ll always be mine, and I’ll literally rip the world apart to keep you, bambino.” He leans in and I know he’s going to kiss me, moving in slowly, his eyes focused on my mouth with a hint of longing so intense it stings through my chest. My heartbeat rises in tempo and my blood runs cold as fear overtakes me. My breathing hitches as he gently grazes his lips across mine, soft, warm, and tender. Familiar lips that I could almost fall into, hoping to erase the pain they caused.

Marissa floods into my head smirking at me, pulling Jake’s mouth to hers while her eyes bore into the recesses of my mind, forcing me to push him away sharply.

“I can’t … Not yet.” I gasp yanking back trying to reel in the crazy burst of emotions that are overwhelming me, suffocating me, and making my body tingle crazily. He lets me loose with a sigh and a look on his beautiful face of utter deflation.

“I understand. I told you, whatever you need, no matter how long it takes. I’m going to do whatever it takes to have you back with me.” The sincerity in his voice helps calm me.

“I can’t think straight … I’m so tired and overemotional.” I sag against the couch, letting out a slow breath, wiping more tears from my already sensitive face. The hangover hits me hard again and fatigue pushes at my eyelids cruelly. I long for some peace in this nightmare for just a little while, all this emotional roller coaster has done is make me crave for sleep.

He leans out pulling me into his arms, strong, safe, and secure. He slides back along the couch and nestles me alongside him as he lies down, his arms and legs around me, spooning me. I don’t fight or struggle. I’m too tired to protest or resist, a part of me wants this, after everything that he’s told me, a part of me needs to feel him around me right now. The pain of being close and not have him touch me has been agony.

“Go to sleep, neonata. I’m not going anywhere; I could use the sleep too. I was up all night checking on drunk women.” He buries his face in the back of my hair and breathes me in, surrounding me with the security that I’ve been aching for. My mind is telling me to push him away, but my heart is aching with his touch. I close my eyes, trying to bring calm to my reeling mind, trying to ignore the way my body is relaxing into him, molding itself to his hold like a traitorous whore.

You’re weak, just like her! Your mother would be so proud!

I push the voice in my head away, too tired for battle, too tired for any of this. I know I shouldn’t let him touch me, but I can’t compete against this. I’m tired, broken, and hungover and right now, lying here in his arms is a battle I’m too exhausted to fight against.

“Maybe for a little while,” I say. “Then I should go.” I’m already relaxing into him, tiredness fuzzing out my brain, like being enveloped into a soft, fluffy, warm room after a terrifyingly cold night. It’s so easy to relax in his arms, they’ve always been my safety net and my whole world. The fatigue is moving in with just his hold over me as though I’ve been waiting to come back to this.

Lying here like this I finally feel able to still my mind, focusing on just the feel and smell of him. The gentleness of his breathing and the way his fingers stroke my arm. It’s all so familiar and so necessary to my mental state. I don’t fight sleep as it moves in, enveloped in his arms, in the warmth and security my body has been longing for.

* * *

I wake with a jump, dreaming I was falling, my heart racing as I bump back to reality. Jake’s arms tighten around me and hold me still.

“It’s okay,” he mumbles, sleepily, not fully coherent, bringing my cheek to his mouth and kissing me lightly. His warm breath giving me tingles and soothing my racing heart. “I’m here.” His voice is gravelly, he’s half-asleep and I’m still held in his arms on the soft leather couch, only now there’s a warm, fur throw over us and the room is so dark it’s almost impossible to see. The only lights on show are coming from New York’s sparkling glow through the long, wide window behind us and I guess we must’ve slept for hours as it’s the middle of the night. His comfort pains me, the way he can be asleep and still try to reassure me.

“I’m okay, it wasn’t one of those dreams. I dreamed I was falling, and it gave me a fright.” I try not to move, knowing if I turn to him, I won’t stay here, I’ll leave. I don’t want to face reality and do this right now or give up being in his embrace just yet.

“Do you want to get up?” He squeezes me a little, clearing his throat to sound more awake, a huge lump hitting me in the stomach. The surge of emotion at his closeness and all his Jake mannerisms. He sounds unsure, wondering if I’m going to ask to go home. I can feel it in the tense way he’s holding onto me and my heart bleeds a little.

“Don’t ever do that to me again,” I cry, suddenly letting all the emotion break loose at his tenderness. He freezes, his body going stiff , a slight ripple of his muscles against me.

“Do what?” His voice hoarse, as I unleash this burst of crazy Emma who has pounced out in the dark. There’s a mild hint of confusion in his voice as he tries to understand what it is he’s done to me while lying here next to me.

“Don’t ever hurt me again … Don’t ever do that to me again! Don’t kiss another person or shut me out or make me feel like I don’t matter! Don’t make me feel like you don’t love me anymore or don’t give a shit about how you make me feel.” The sobs overtake me, and I can’t say anymore. He crushes me to him, wrapping those arms tightly around me, pulling me into his body so we’re almost one.

“Emma …” The pain in his voice matches mine, grabbing me so close that he’s squeezing me. “You think I would ever be that stupid again? This last week has destroyed me. Do you know how many times I drove to Queens and sat a block away from your apartment, stopping myself from coming for you? About three times a day, every day. I had to stop myself because I knew you didn’t want to see me, and it killed me. I was right there, baby, when flowers were rejected, and gifts thrown back, because I hoped one of them might make you call me, and I wanted to be there as soon as you did. I swear I’ll never, ever hurt you, never betray you again. I’m sorry, sorrier than I can ever find the words to tell you. No one hates what I did more than me. Please, Emma, just give me one chance and I promise you I’ll never give you another reason to leave me for the rest of our lives. I love you, you’re all that matters to me, nothing else is worth anything if you’re not a part of it. How you feel is everything. You’re inside of me, you’re a part of me, my heart doesn’t beat without you, baby. I need you,” he says it all, barely taking a breath, clinging to me fiercely.

I turn in his arms and throw myself around him taking comfort from the person I need most in the world. I still ache, I’m still grieving for what he’s done but I need to be here with him if I’m to heal. The wracking pain from being away from him is more unbearable than facing the pain of what he’s done to us. It’s crazy and messed-up; maybe it makes me weak but it’s the only way I can function.

“I don’t want to leave,” I whimper, with my head buried in his neck.

“No one is making you go, Emma, in fact, they’re going to have to fight me to the death to try to get you out of my arms. I won’t let you go.” The hoarseness in his voice betrays his emotion, close to breaking down, yet with a hint of stubborn Carrero.

“I want to come home.” I sniff, quietly, my heart wrenching through my chest, painfully.

“I want you home. I need you home.” He presses his mouth to my forehead and inhales me heavily.

I sound like a broken child, wrapped in my security blanket, longing for him to take all my decisions away and take care of me. I can be angry and sort out the mess of what we have left tomorrow, then, when I’m more able to, we can face this, together; whatever ‘this’ is, or is going to be.

“I still don’t know if I can …” I hesitate, screwing my eyes shut against his chest, breathing in his scent.

“I told you, I’ll do whatever you need, baby. As much space as you need … As much time as you need. Come home, I’ll sleep somewhere else in here if that’s what you need. I’m begging you.” His voice is rough and low, his arms holding me tight, and I know he’ll never let anyone take me.

My Jake. My security. My tormentor.